Rail brace and fastener.



A. P. W. PRELLE. RAIL BRACE AND FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.1,1909.

940,554. Patented No v. 16, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST F. W. PRELLE, 0F BASSETT, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 0.E. WOODS, OF BASSETT, NEBRASKA.

BAIL BRACE AND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST F. V. PRELLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bassett, in the county of Rock and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Rail Braces and Fasteners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements on my railbrace filed August 19, 1908, Serial Number 449,323, allowed November 11,1908, the object being to improve the general construction of the samewhereby the members of the brace can be formed alike so that in placingthe same in position on a rail there will be no right or left membersthereby saving a great deal of time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brace which isreduced to form substantially I-shaped portions so as to reduce theweight of the same without increasing the strength to any extent.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rail brace whichis formed of two duplicate members each member being provided with alaterally projecting lug upon each side which is cut out to form asocket to receive the lug of the other member when placed side by sidein position on the rails.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved rail brace, showing theapplication of the same. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3is a perspective view of my improved rail brace the members beingseparated. Fig. 4: is a detail section through one of the members.

In carrying out my improved invention I employ a pair of duplicatemembers A and B which are formed preferably of iron bars having reducedportions A and B forming substantially I-shaped bars so as to reduce theweight of the same. The bars are provided with angled inner ends A and Band hooked outer ends A and B adapted to fit over the bases of the railsas will be hereinafter fully described. The solid portions of the barsare provided with laterally projecting hollow lugs D and D, E and E uponopposite sides forming sockets and projections which are adapted tointerlock when the bars are placed side by side and forced together andthe solid portions are provided with bolt openings through which boltsare adapted to pass for securing the members together and arrangedcentrally to each bar is a solid portion which is provided with anopening through which a bolt is adapted to pass so that all danger ofthe bars spreading or moving in any way is prevented. It will be seenthat by this arrangement the bars can be placed together withoutmatching up so that a great deal of time is saved and at the same timewhen placed in position they will be securely held together over thebases of the rails so as to brace the same.

In applying my improved invention upon the rail the hooked ends arefirst placed over the bases of the rails from the outside and thenforced inwardly until the angled ends engage the web of the rail and byforcing the bars together the laterally projecting lugs of one memberwill fit in the sockets formed by the lugs of the other member so thatall danger of the same moving is pre vented and after they have beenplaced in this position the bolts are forced through the openings andsecured by nuts in the ordinary manner, so that all danger of the barsseparating is prevented.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided arail brace which is formed of a pair of duplicate members each memberbeing provided with laterally projecting hollow lugs forming sockets andprojections which are adapted to interlock when placed together whichenables the readily placing of the bars together without matching up thebars.

WVhat I claim is 1. A rail brace comprising a pair of duplicate barsprovided with laterally projecting hollow lugs upon opposite sidesformin look when placed together, bolts extending through said bars saidbars being provided with hooked outer ends and angled inner ends adaptedto fit over the bases of the rails.

52. A rail brace comprising a pair of duplicate bars, each bar having anangled end and a hooked end and having an I-shaped cross section,laterally projecting lugs formed upon opposite sides of each of saidbars, said lugs having sockets formed therein adapted to receive thelugs of the adjacent bar when said bars are secured side by side.

sockets and projections adapted to inters '1 v l L .1 I 3. A m1 bracecomprlsing a pair of duother when sold bars are arranged side by phcatebars having hooked outer ends and slde and bolts for securing sald barstogether.

angled inner ends adapted to fit over the 1 1 bases of the rails, saidbars having I-shaped AUGUSCL L 5 cross sections and laterally projectinghol- WVitnesses:

10W lugs formed upon opposite sides of each J. D. BRAYToN, of said bars,adapted to fit one Within the J. J. CARLIN.

